THE RNLI has vowed to continue saving anyone in danger at sea despite provisions in the “anti-refugee” Bill that could criminalise picking up asylum-seekers.  

Volunteers with the rescue charity could face life in jail for rescuing asylum-seekers in the Channel under the Tories’ Nationality & Borders Bill, according to immigration lawyers. 

But the charity remained defiant against the potential threat, saying in a statement on Sunday: “We are a life-saving charity and, under maritime law and the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (Solas), our volunteer lifeboat crews will always go to the aid of those in danger at sea.”

The Bill, introduced to Parliament last week, seeks to amend an offence under the 1971 Immigration Act for assisting an asylum-seeker.

The amendment removes the words “for gain,” which previously limited prosecutions under the offence to paid people-smugglers.

It would also see the crime punishable by life in jail, up from a maximum sentence of 14 years. 

The Home Office has insisted that the change will not affect the work of groups like the RNLI. 

The charity was forced to defend its work last week after coming under attack by right-wing rag the Daily Mail, and former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who said the charity was running a “taxi service for illegal immigration.”

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said the Bill was “so draconian, it could put RNLI volunteers at risk of prison.”

“When did saving lives become a criminal offence? Impossible to overstate how cruel and inhumane these plans are,” the group said on social media. 

UN agency the International Migration Organisation has also expressed concerns, saying that “any situation which creates added risk of loss of life at sea should be avoided.”

Concerns have also been raised about other measures proposed in the legislation.

Refugee Rights Europe, which documents abuses against asylum-seekers, said proposals allowing small boats to be returned to France would lead to “unlawful pushbacks.”

Executive director Marta Welandar said: “This is an alarming trend we’re already witnessing at multiple borders across Europe — at internal and external EU borders.

“Pushbacks constitute a violation of the principle of non-refoulement — denying individuals the right to seek asylum as guaranteed by international refugee law.”